With the final preseason games closing out this past Saturday, the time for fantasy drafts is now. Whether it’s for a prize, bragging rights or avoiding a punishment for finishing last, the name of the game is winning it all. Though every fantasy player has their own strategy in regards to drafting, here’s a few players to keep an eye for, in both a positive and negative way.
Destined for Regression
Vincent: Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets
Talent has never been a question for Breece Hall. Rather, it was how he’d come back from his rookie year injury and the team’s consistency. Across his three seasons, Hall has never rushed for 1,000 yards, though he’s held plenty of value due to his pass-catching ability. However, he did see some regression from his sophomore season to last year, finishing as the RB16 after an RB2 campaign. Given his draft price, Hall is positioned to be a disappointment in terms of return on value, especially with other running backs like Omarion Hampton and James Cook going in a similar spot. The feel with the Jets running situation seems to be trending in the direction of a committee, rather than Hall serving as a true featured back. With Hall entering a contract year and him not being drafted under the new front office and coaching staff, the Jets could move on from the projected lead back.
Reece: Joe Mixon, RB, Houston Texans
Joe Mixon will enter the season with some uncertainties surrounding his health. All reports indicate that Mixon will appear on the injury list for the first game of the season. The Texans signed NFL veteran Nick Chubb after the Browns let him walk this offseason, following significant injuries over the past two years. The addition of Chubb will split touches with Mixon, who barely surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark in the 2024 season. Mixon could easily fall short of the 1,000-yard club and may no longer be a double-digit touchdown back. For fantasy football purposes, Mixon may be a player you should consider passing on.
Rookie Sensation
Vincent: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers
Anytime a team spends a top-10 pick on a player, the return on investment is usually exponentially high. Though the expectations may be high for Tetairoa McMillan, the University of Arizona product has the chance to be the biggest impact rookie in fantasy. Sitting atop the Carolina Panthers’ depth chart, McMillan has begun building a connection with quarterback Bryce Young. Although he’ll be the primary focus of defenses in the passing game, McMillan is surrounded by other quality pass catchers, such as last year’s first-round pick Xavier Legette, second-year tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders and 2024 undrafted free agent Jalen Coker. Especially if you draft a QB or tight end in the first few rounds, you’ll have the ability to grab McMillan around the late-fifth to early-sixth round in drafts.
Reece: Matthew Golden, WR, Green Bay Packers
The Jordan Love era has been filled with many question marks, one of the biggest being the wide receiver one spot. Green Bay’s depth at the wide receiver position is arguably the deepest in the NFL, yet they still do not have a solidified WR1. This is where the first-round pick out of Texas comes into play. The Packers brought in Matthew Golden to give Love a go-to target that will help this roster get over the hump. He was a key piece in Texas’ successful college football season last year, finishing just 13 yards shy of 1,000 receiving yards and scoring nine touchdowns. His name continued to rise up draft boards. Unlike other rookies who were selected within the top-10 of the 2025 NFL Draft by bottom-tier teams, Golden was still available at the 23rd pick, where Green Bay selected him. The luxury of playing for an NFC contender could set the stage for a rookie season to remember.
New Threads, Same Great Player
Vincent: Stefon Diggs, WR, New England Patriots
If it hadn’t been for a midseason knee injury, Stefon Diggs was well on pace for his fifth straight top-10 wide receiver finish. An injury of this magnitude could be worrisome for a 31-year-old receiver, though rumors surrounding the knee seem to be good at the moment. After his lone season with the Texans, Diggs finds himself in Foxborough with second-year quarterback Drake Maye, who showed flashes as a future star at the position, all while failing to have a top receiver. With Diggs–who has always been the number one option since entering his prime–he seems destined to replicate what he’s done with the likes of Kirk Cousins in Minnesota, Josh Allen in Buffalo and C.J. Stroud in Houston. With Cooper Kupp, Brandon Aiyuk and Jayden Reed being a few of the fellow receivers going in a similar draft range, Diggs’ ceiling is substantially higher than all the aforementioned.
Reece: Davante Adams, WR, Los Angeles Rams
The loss of Kupp would feel much more significant if it weren’t for the Rams being able to bring in Davante Adams as his replacement. Adams has been a fantastic receiver in the NFL for almost a decade. He hasn’t been part of winning football since his Green Bay days, and the move to L.A. should bring him right back to a contender in the NFC. Even though Adams will be the WR2 behind Puka Nacua, Matthew Stafford is an outstanding quarterback—arguably top five in the league. It would be no surprise if both Adams and Nacua exceed the 1,000-yard mark and become one of the best wide receiver duos.
Bounceback Player of the Year
Vincent: Deebo Samuel, WR, Washington Commanders
Theoretically, Deebo Samuel could’ve fallen under the previous category. Samuel possesses dual-threat ability as both a pass catcher and rusher. After a resurgent 2023, Samuel had a falling out with the 49ers, leading to his move to Washington. With the uncertainty surrounding Terry McLaurin, Samuel could find himself in a primary receiver role for the Commanders. Even if the McLaurin situation resolves itself, Jayden Daniels’ ability to feed passes to Samuel will only improve the rejuvenated offense from a year ago. Samuel is currently sitting at the ADP 88, meaning you won’t have to solely bank on a bounce-back, but could reap the reward of a resurgence.
Reece: Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
The 2024 season was a disaster in Duval, with the Jaguars finishing with a 4-13 record in the worst division in football. Travis Etienne also drew the short end of the stick, as his production took a major hit. He went from a 1,000+ yard running back in his first two seasons to just 558 yards and over 100 fewer carries.
That said, hope for Travis Etienne should not be lost. The addition of Travis Hunter, as well as Brian Thomas Jr. coming off an amazing rookie year, could elevate this offense to a level Jacksonville hasn’t seen in years. Etienne enters the 2025 season ranked as RB37. He could easily return to being a top-20 running back, making him a late-round steal that nobody is talking about.
Undervalued
Vincent: J.K. Dobbins, RB, Denver Broncos
Had he not missed four games last season, J.K. Dobbins could’ve landed himself a more lucrative deal in free agency. Luckily for the Broncos, he agreed to a team-friendly deal. Even in 13 games, Dobbins produced a career best in rush attempts (195), rushing yards (905), receptions (32) and receiving yards (153), while finding the end zone nine times. Although Denver drafted RJ Harvey in the second round, Dobbins won’t be a nonfactor in this offense, especially early in the season. His value being between rounds 10 and 12, he offers significant upside given his price tag.
Reece: Jakobi Meyers, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
Jakobi Meyers had a season that no one expected last year in a dysfunctional Raiders offense. Meyers joined the 1,000-yard club for the first time in his career. With an upgrade at the quarterback position, Geno Smith will make Meyers’s job much easier, and we could see another leap in his usage. In a lackluster Vegas receiving core, his value could skyrocket well past WR36, where Meyers is entering the season.
Overvalued
Vincent: Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore is synonymous with being heavier in the run than most teams. It’s hard not to be with Lamar Jackson at quarterback and Derrick Henry at running back. Even with that testament, Jackson threw for his most amount of yards last season. As a result, Zay Flowers added 200 yards to his total from the year prior. Yet, he only had a three-point increase for fantasy purposes. That was with a less crowded receiver room, with Baltimore adding veteran DeAndre Hopkins. Flowers is very much a boom-or-bust style of player, finishing as a top-25 receiver in six games last year, while failing to crack double digits in just as many. Having to pay a fifth-round price for Flowers seems steep, especially with the other receiving talent going around the same pick.
Reece: Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Xavier Worthy is a player you should hesitate to select for your fantasy roster. He is listed in the top 50 overall and ranked as WR20. Worthy is a boom-or-bust fantasy player because of his ability to catch the deep ball. One week, he could score 25 points and follow that up with just a five-point performance the next week. Rashee Rice will most likely be the WR1 once he returns from suspension, and his absence due to injury in the 2024 season was part of the reason Worthy was able to put up over 600 yards in 12 games. There are many other options around Worthy’s ranking who are much safer picks.
Sleeper
Vincent: Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Cleveland Browns
If you haven’t heard of Harold Fannin Jr., it doesn’t come as a surprise. He was a third-round pick by the Cleveland Browns out of Bowling Green–three factors that don’t appeal to the average fan. However, given how heavily involved the tight end position tends to be in Cleveland, it wouldn’t be surprising if Fannin Jr. produces at a plus level alongside David Njoku. He led the FBS in receiving yards with 117 receptions and 1,555 yards last season. With Joe Flacco announced as the starting quarterback for Cleveland, the tight end position could be a focal point. The hope for Fannin Jr. is two-tight end sets become something head coach Kevin Stefanski calls for the majority of the season. Though he’ll be a waiver wire watch, don’t be surprised if Fannin Jr. is someone you end up streaming at tight end as the season progresses.
Reece: Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB, New York Giants
Tyrone Tracy Jr. delivered solid production in the New York backfield just a season ago as a rookie. Tracy entered the season as the RB2 behind veteran Devin Singletary, but it only took him a few games to win the starting job. He went on to start the last 12 games of the season, finishing with 839 yards and 5 touchdowns. Now, heading into 2025, he is the clear number one running back for the Giants. Although the Giants selected Cam Skattebo in the 2025 NFL Draft, this year will likely serve as more of a development period for the fourth-round pick. Tracy Jr. is listed as RB27, ranking him among the lowest starting backs in the league, despite having the potential to outperform expectations and become a great value pick for a fantasy roster.
Stack
Vincent: Bo Nix and Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos
Despite some growing pains throughout his rookie season, Bo Nix proved he was worthy of a first-round selection by throwing for 3,775 yards and 29 touchdowns. 1,081 of those yards and eight of those touchdowns went to Courtland Sutton, who finished at a new best WR15 in fantasy. Considering the draft capital required to secure top stacks like Joe Burrow and Ja’marr Chase or A.J. Brown and Jalen Hurts, the Nix-Sutton tandem might be the most cost-efficient, with Sutton being around the ADP 50 and Nix around the ADP 86, preserving your top picks.
Reece: C.J. Stroud and Nico Collins, Houston Texans
There are many great quarterback-wide receiver duos in the league, but with the departure of Stefon Diggs, Stroud and Nico Collins could make their mark as one of the best in the NFL. Collins was sidelined for a five-game span last year with a hamstring injury, yet still managed to surpass 1,000 yards for the second straight season. It’s no surprise that Collins is heading into the 2025 season ranked as WR7 and could easily crack the top five. Heading into this year, C.J. Stroud’s hype has died down. Many experts speak on his “sophomore slump” but choose to overlook the fact that his receiving core spent more time on the injury list than the active roster last season. Stroud has the ability to throw the ball as well as any of the top quarterbacks in the league. With Stroud’s fantasy draft stock descending, the Stroud-Collins duo could prove to be very lethal.
Second Year Step Up/Back
Vincent: Rome Odunze, WR, Chicago Bears
Last year, Chicago drafted their quarterback of the future and one of his potential top pieces in Rome Odunze. As a rookie, he was targeted 101 times, which shows his presence in the offense was there. However, just over half of those targets resulted in receptions (54). Another key takeaway was 17 of the 101 targets were in the red zone. Only six of the 17 resulted in catches, with half of that mark being for touchdowns. Odunze was heralded as a prospect because of his big frame and ability to come down with 50/50 balls. Not to deflect all the blame from Odunze, but Caleb Williams consistently being under pressure didn’t help with his precision on his passes, so with a bolstered offensive line and a new, offensive minded head coach, Odunze seems likely to take a step in the right direction in year two.
Reece: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals
If you were a college football fan in recent years, you know the hype and so-called “generational talent” that Marvin Harrison Jr. carried. As the son of an NFL legend, the spotlight is always shining on him, yet Harrison Jr. exceeded expectations. Although he didn’t have the breakout rookie year that many anticipated, he still tallied just under 900 yards and eight touchdowns. Reports indicate that Marvin Harrison Jr. has gained 11 pounds of pure muscle this past offseason. The Kyler Murray to Harrison Jr. connection will continue to develop, with a breakout sophomore season on the horizon for second-year wideout.
Late Round League Winner
Vincent: Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers
After being benched two weeks into last season, it seemed all hope was lost for the 2023 first overall pick. Instead, he went on to start the final 10 games for Carolina. Particularly in the final eight games following the bye, he showed why he warranted a top selection, looking more poised as a passer and as a rusher, being responsible for 16 of the Panthers’ touchdowns to close the season. With the confidence of the organization and an improved receiver room, Young enters this season in the best situation of his young career. If you are in a superflex league or have the ability to draft for depth, Young should be someone you snag late, going as the QB25.
Reece: Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis Colts
There’s always that one late-round fantasy pick who pushes the needle for someone’s roster. Josh Downs could be that guy. Downs had as much, if not better, production than many of the wideouts ranked ahead of him. His sophomore season was very impressive, given the circumstances of the Colts’ offense and QB situation. Josh Downs was an 800-yard receiver last season, and if the quarterback play shows any consistency, he could easily surpass the 1,000-yard mark. For someone entering the season as WR52, a 1,000-yard campaign could make him a true difference-maker as a late-round selection.
Curious Case
Vincent: Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints
Since Derek Carr announced his retirement in May, the Saints’ quarterback situation has been a major question mark. With Spencer Rattler being named the starter, the passing game looks bleak in New Orleans. Even if they turn to 25-year-old rookie Tyler Shough at some point, investing stock in the New Orleans passing game doesn’t seem like a wise decision. Until you think about Chris Olave, who in his two full seasons with New Orleans produced top-25 receiving years for fantasy purposes. Though his performances across eight games last year showed signs of a disappointing year, a fair ruling of that juncture wasn’t possible, with Olave suffering a scary concussion, knocking him out for the second half of the Saints’ season. Healthy for this season, Olave could return to star form. Even with the uncertainty at quarterback, that hasn’t hindered him previously, with his rookie year having current backup quarterbacks as his passer. With his price being a sixth-to-seventh-round pick, his production is as unclear as any player in fantasy.
Reece: Davante Adams, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Ever since leaving Green Bay, Adams has continued to be a top-10 receiver in the league, but it is clear that he hasn’t had the same impact as before. However, he is now playing under a great coach in Sean McVay and is catching passes from arguably a top-five quarterback in Matthew Stafford. As the WR2, he will no longer face the number one cornerback every week. A player of Davante Adams’ caliber and skill set facing CB2s each week could be a dangerous sight and difficult to gameplan against. At 32 years old, some may be cautious about the star wide receiver declining, but Adams could easily bounce back to the receiver he was just two seasons ago, surpassing over 1,300 yards.
Absolute Must Have
Vincent: Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sharing any accolade with Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice means a player is a special talent. Mike Evans solidified himself in a category with Rice, producing his 11th straight 1,000 receiving yard season, doing so in every year of his professional career. For fantasy, Evans has been a hit every year of his career, with his lowest finish being as the WR22. Along with yardage, Evans comes away with plenty of catches, hauling 70 or more catches in all but two seasons. Likewise, he finds the endzone at a solid rate, with eight or more touchdowns in all but three seasons. Lastly, 2024 matched the most number of games he’s missed in a season (3) and yet he still finished as the WR14. Consistency, healthy and in a heavy volume passing offense is the perfect concoction for any wide receiver.
Reece: Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
Heading into the 2025 NFL season, Cincinnati is projected to have one of the most powerful offenses in the National Football League. However, their defense is expected to be among the league’s weakest. This could result in many shootouts, particularly in the highly competitive AFC North division. Burrow is coming off an MVP-caliber season, totalling nearly 5,000 yards and 43 touchdowns. There are no signs of this offense slowing down, especially after both Chase and Tee Higgins were locked down this offseason, signing massive contract extensions with the Bengals.
All stats from ESPN and Sleeper as of August 21.
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